The new team is still Dillon Brooks.
The Houston Rockets forward was asked Tuesday about playing against LeBron James in Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers. He expected to guard him and vowed to “lock him up.”
“Be prepared to lock him up,” Brooks told reporters. “He shot the ball well, he played well. I just tired him out and got him into the fourth quarter early.”
The last time Brooks and James faced off on the court, Brooks called James “old” and said James didn’t earn his respect. It’s a first-round playoff series between the Lakers and Brooks’ former Memphis Grizzlies.
“I poke the bear,” Brooks told reporters in April. “I won’t respect anyone unless they come and give me 40.”
It was after Game 2, and there was some tension between the two on the court. Brooks then punched James in the groin in Game 3, deservedly leading to his ejection.
The Lakers defeated the Grizzlies in six games and that was it. James and Brooks declined a handshake after the series, and James celebrated the victory with a Jay-Z-inspired lap on social media.
Not as small as you🤬I am a big ass man
Big shoes to fill🤬, big ass pants
I’m probably with your parents. Go ask your parents.
It’s obvious you’re watching a legend
Who, put a few where they put before 🤬
Try to eat the grace that was not mentioned before! 🤫👑— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 29, 2023
After the loss in Game 6, Brooks didn’t say anything.I have Leaving the Grizzlies locker room before the media arrived.
Now that Brooks is in a new city, he feels happy. Although this claim is certainly suppressed by its standards. But he showed no signs of backing down from James. It sounded like he was tired of hearing James talk.
“I think he controls the media,” Brooks continued. “I feel like a lot of people – you know – have these podcasts and like social media, but I really don’t like it. I really don’t like the media.
“If I don’t have to talk to you guys, I’m not going to talk to you guys. You know, I just block it out and just play basketball.”
As for how he plans to lock down James, Brooks reiterated that the plan is to tire him out physically.
“When he wants to bring it up, we pursue him full force,” Brooks said. “Anytime he’s isolation in the zone, I’m going to hit him. Hit him on the jog. If he’s guarding me, I want to hit him. Just give him multiple moves.”
As for James, he was active on social media on Tuesday. But his message was aimed at NBA officials. Brooks didn’t seem to be on his radar.